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Show VE I ON PAGE 9: assistant theater professor gives 0 us an inside look at the Shakespearean Festivals summer and fall seasons DSC r I - - J Critics Column reviews Nanny McPhee and The Switch sea: DSC student j niggles family? activism St. George resident Linda Stay, a accidental activist, is the focus of a documentary that explores the involvement of the Church Saints in of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y makers of 8: The Mormon Proposition turned their attention to tire historic campaign by the Mormon Church to pass Proposition 8 in California believing that it was the cornerstone of an ideology that has worked for decades to damage gay people and their causes. The film is their emotional outcry to what they pursuing a degree in communication. Stay said the filmmakers chose to focus on her story because she is a . fifth generation Mormon, and her son was married to another man while tire state of California was recognizing marriages between gays. It was her acceptance of her two gay children, Tyler and Amanda Barrick, that gave her the drive to fight for gay rights in October of 2008. Proposition 8 was about to deny her son the right to his marriage, so she got involved in a petition to the Mormon prophet. She drove to Salt Lake City to the LDS church offices with posters for protesting. She went into the offices to fight for her son, despite a lack of support from members of her family. when she said Stay was teary-eye- d she had to do this but became triumphant by tlie time she said that her posters gained her national media attention. She described it as her "coming out" in support "I o OvYVx VYn w. Poster parent Linda Stay, a junior communication major from St. George, works on a sign that shows her support for her gay children. Stay and her family were featured in the 2008 documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition. say you love him." Stay said tlie actions of tlie Mormon church caused Stay's direct family to leave in 2008. To this day she has not found acceptance from her family and has- nt been on speaking terms with her mother be- cause of it. Stay doesn't describe herself as at war with tlie Mormons, but instead said she is defending tlie civil rights of those around her. Despite that, she said she feels suffocated by didn't ask for this it found me. This is my mission call; this is what God wants for me right now." much different from any other Mormon mom you might see at the supermarket. Her house is almost stereotypical for southern Utah. There is a piano with sheet music scattered it shows him hughusband. his Maybe it wasn't a ging typical Utah home at all. Despite Stay's direct family sticking together through this battle, she hasn't her son's marriage; couldn't condone what he'd done." Stay responded that no one should "compartmentalize a person like that... love him and support him, but don't vote against his civil rights and Last Comic Standing finalist to perform in Gardner tonight day at 7 p.m. in the Gardner Ballroom as part of tlie Week of Welcome festivities. Jeff Dye. tlie colorful comedian from Kent, will be performing Wash., scenes from his debut comedy album Welcome to My Brain, which was recorded ser the son del here in Utah. Dye said he chose to record tlie album in Utah because his act is clean and tlie crowds here have responded surprisingly well to it. In fact. Dye performed at Dixie State College two years ago. I loved perfonning at Dixie State, even though I found out Dixie cups weren't made there, Dye said. I was sad at first but then had a great time. Many students will remember Dye as a finalist on tlie 2008 season of Last Comic Stand- - Jeff Dye will be performing Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Gardner Ballroom as part of DSCs Week Of Welcome. Dye was a finalist in the 2008 season of Last Comic Standing. ing, where he eventually placed third for his edginess and creative humor. Ties almost funny, said Tanya Hoyt, a sophomore nursing major from Hurricane, who is the special events chair for student fife. Stefanie Higginson, a senior communication major from Roy, is vice president of student' fife and was responsible for booking Dye. Higginson said her choice to book Dye wasnt based only on tlie fact that hes Dye was booked through the National Association for Campus Activities, which provides program planning and risk management. Its haiff when youre booking somebody and you cant see them perform, Higginson said. You see tlieir Internet bits, but those are probably the best tilings they can do and those can be misleading. Higginson said NACA gives student government leaders an opportunity to see national fonners live, talk to their agents, and then make booking see DYE page 9 like cha Ad T thn wh bee fro I the times in the interview she's on the verge of tears. There's a fire in her eyes as she talks excitedly, moving to the edge of her seat. "I didn't ask for this it found me," Stay said. "This is my mission call; this is what God wants for me right now." Stay describes how it was almost happenstance the way she ended up in the documentary about Proposition 8. She spoke with Reed Cowan, the producer of "8," and after sharing her story was almost immediately picked up for the film. The documentary itself isn't playing in theaters, but it is often shown at Stay is a junior from St. George tire Year will be performing at Entertainment Dixie Wednes- A When Stay begins talking about activism, a passion fights up in her. At found. One of Campus Activities Magazines Hot Comedians of ors they're just shoveling dirt, burying m alive." Stay describes vividly how difficult it is for the kids in the gay, lesbian, and transsexual community. the It's only reason she's still in Utah, she said, because it's so hard on them, because they come into conflict with the church so much. the debate over Proposition 8. According to the films website, www.mormonproposition.com, the BY ERIC REED Staff Writer ivitl tlie religiosity of tlie region. "It's so oppressive," Stay said. "I feel like I'm in a pit, and all up above are all tlie school teachers and the employers and the cashiers. I've got all of these kids on my back, and BY TAYLOR GRIN Staff Writer of gay marriage. Stay herself doesn't seem fes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen-- i dered community events and was present at the Michael Moore film festival. Stay donated a copy to the DSC library and the Washington vel ere by rea die gai aui pei the ass the bet Ut Fe an ch of 01 at County Library. Stay is still very active for LGBT rights and describes herself as a "poster mom." She has started to pi foi Kc Ha patch things up with her family but has found much more support from her community of activists. Despite 1 Sh bet all of the hate mail and contention, she said she has found much more acceptance and gratitude for all she has given to the gay rights hei drc Co vei n Jr, Download the podcast of this interview at dixiesunlink.com Tuacahn summer season boasts Disney exclusive BY MCKOYE MECHAM Staff Writer This summer Tuacahns stage has been transformed into a lush jungle full of vine swinging simians straight out of the Disney movie Tarzan, bringing in audiences from all over to see the production. "Tarzan, the Stage Musical made its introduction into southernUtah in June at the Tuacahn Amphitheater. The show is the first regional production of Tarzan in the United States. It was licensed through a special arrangement with Disney. Since its opening the show has been sold out almost every night, bringing people nationwide to southern Utah to see the production. Tarzan has been hugely successful, said Lisa Knowlton, Tuachan box office manager. Its been our bestselling show and its been really fun having it here. The Tuacahn Amphitheater seats 1,920 people, and the nights Tarzan has not sold out have been by 100 tickets or fewer, Knowlton said. According to the "Tarzan" program provided at Tuacahn, one of the challenges of bringing the show to the stage was bringing to life the jungle by using real swinging vines for the actors. The challenge was met head on, and in the end audience members expressed their enjoyment of the acrobatics and flying techniques used in the production. Audience members commented that Tarzan and the apes easily swung across the stage and over the audience as though they were on real vines in the jungle. My favorite part was when the young Tarzan disappeared and the grown up Tarzan came swinging in on a vine from the background, said Karen Hulsey, Tuacahn box of fice employee. Besides the acrobatics and vine swinging, female audience members commented on actor James Royce Edwards, who plajs the leading role of Tarzan They said his acting was admirable, and his looks didnt hurt either. He is really cute," said Sunny Pollock, an audience member from Tropic "And he looks great in loincloth! Along with Edwards, other cast members include Evan DAngeles as Tarzans best friend, Terk. Summer Broyhill as Tarzan's love intrest, L. Brown as Ken chak, leader of the apes; Todd Dubail as Mr. Clayton, the villain; and Stovall as Kala, Tarzans ape mother. There are several local people starring in the pr" duction. Kile Allen, a graduate from Dixie High School, and Jeremy Cara Ces-sale- e see TARZAN page ast I Pil lea fic dc Wa Fn Pn Ii the ott Wc Mt |